There is a tense face-off between the Yemeni rebels, supported by Iran, and the multi-national maritime protection force led by the US in the Red Sea. On Monday, January 1, Iran deployed a warship in the area. This came one day after a deadly confrontation between US forces and the Houthis. This deployment complicates Washington's efforts to stop the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping on this global maritime crossroads. According to US media, US President Joe Biden is not ruling out direct strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, but so far he has preferred to use the powers of persuasion to try and prevent a regional escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The mid-December deployment of the multi-national naval force has not stopped the attacks. Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen, have carried out several attacks against ships that they consider to be "linked to Israel," in solidarity with the Palestinians. According to the Pentagon, they have launched over a hundred drone and missile attacks, against 10 merchant ships. They have been holding, since November, the Galaxy Leader and its 25 crew. In response, maritime transport groups suspended activity in the Red Sea, a strategic route used for 12% of world trade.
The first deadly clashes with US forces on the Red Sea took place on December 31. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) in the Middle East announced it had sunk three rebel ships, after attacks against a container ship operated by Danish group Maersk, off Al Hudaydah. Ten Houthi rebels were killed in the strike, according to their military spokesperson Yahya Saree. During this rescue operation, the US destroyer USS Gravely brought down two ballistic missiles shot from part of Yemen controlled by Houthis. The missiles were "heading for the [US] ships" CENTCOM added.
"The American enemy accepts the consequences of this crime," the Houthi rebels said in a statement, which also said "its military movements in the Red Sea to protect Israeli ships will not stop [the Houthis from] carrying out their religious, moral and humanitarian duty to support those who have been wronged in Palestine and Gaza." Danish maritime transport giant Maersk announced a 48-hour suspension of its activity in the Red Sea. Its ships had just returned to the zone, as had those of French group CMA CGM.
With a view to stepping up the pressure on the Yemeni rebels, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced, on December 18, the setting up of a multi-national maritime protection force. This coalition will carry out joint patrols in the south of the Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aden, and come to the aid of merchant ships if necessary. About 20 countries have committed to taking part in the international operation "Prosperity Guardian," the details of which are still vague. These countries include France, the UK, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Greece. Most Arab states refused to take part in it, with the exception of Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet.
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